Final Project / Dissertation / Portfolio

• Credit value: 60 credits at Level 7
• Convenor: Imke Henkel
• Assessment: a 15,000-word academic dissertation on a topic related to journalism, or a 5000-6000-word journalistic feature or portfolio of features, plus 4000-word critical commentary. You may also submit an equivalent piece of broadcast or multimedia journalism instead of a written feature, as agreed by the programme director.

This is the culminating piece of research or of journalistic/investigative reporting which will bring together the practical and theoretical knowledge you have acquired throughout the course.

You will have the choice to either write an academic dissertation or an original journalistic piece. In both cases you will develop your text through drafts and rewrites. If you choose to write a journalistic piece, the theoretical component will enable you to reflect on your practice and understand your writing within the context of the industry and discourses of journalism.

The final project is based around self-organised study and intensive writing with supervision by an experienced theory or practice lecturer as appropriate for your choice of project. You will have one-to-one supervision support for your drafts. There will be two introductory lecture-workshops to assist you in deciding on your project.